WHAT IS WRONG WITH SOME OF YOU. Find a hobby or something that makes you happy. I'm seriously losing faith in mankind. What drives you to get on these boards and be so hateful and judgmental of someone you don't even know? Seriously, get a life.

"Saturday 08 AugustBy ReneeWhen you are born and REARED :>) in Texas, that's what happens to you, always a Redneck!"

Hey, Renee...here's a thought for you...try not to be so closed-minded and sterotypical. I don't love everything about Texas or it's people, but I can't imagine classifying a WHOLE state as being filled with only one type of person...That is just ridiculous. I see Texans insulted on these threads ad nauseum, and I don't get it. I have never condemned a STATE and ALL of it's population. I only judge someone who has done something personally to me. I will never understand people like you, but it's not because I was "reared" in Texas. Maybe the problem is you WEREN'T. At least most of us have some manners and tact, and a GREAT many of us are highly educated. But go ahead and judge us on JESSICA SIMPSON'S behavior lol Very logical reasoning. Sara ~ Never been a "redneck," never WILL be, but does take pride in herself and her state.

But when checking the FACTS...Texas does rank 48th in education and 1st in pollution....And given the fact that Gov Perry did wanna leave the Union.. Untill he got his stimulus money and renovated his Gov. Mansion to the tune of 11 mill.And HOW BOUT DEM COWBOYS???

It's easy to classify people you do not understand in some negative way.

I am a Texan, born and raised, as was my Father before me and his father before him.

I have five university degrees, including several Bachelor's degrees, a Master's in Education and a Ph.D. in education. My combined grade point average, after all those degrees, was 3.94 on a 4.0 scale.

One of my degrees is in Texas history and the history of the Old West.

I have taught at the high school level and university level. I expect my students to learn and perform in my classes. I do not GIVE grades; my students EARN them.

Despite popular mythology, not everyone in Texas is ignorant and/or a redneck. I also have many Texas born friends who do *not* have college educations, but who are some of the most intelligent and kind people I know.

Go ahead and insult us -- we just laugh about it, but we don't knock people from other states. What's the point? It's ridiculous and narrow-minded.

MG -- AS TO "WHAT'S UP WITH THE LONE STAR" ... look up the following histories (Google them if necessary).

A VERY brief history of Texas:

1) The history of the six flags which flew over Texas (and NO, I do NOT mean the theme park), were extremely significant in shaping the history of our state. The countries which "owned" Texas, over the centuries, which were Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederate States of America and the United States.

2) Texas' fight for independence from Mexico, which culminated, first, in the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, followed shortly by the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio on March 6, 1836. Only a few hundred Texans, or Texicans, as they called themselves, fought gallantly against Santa Anna and thousands of Mexican troops, until they were eventually overwhelmed by numbers.

3) Regardless, Texas *did* win its independence and became it's own country: the Republic of Texas -- ergo, the Lone Star. We had all our own resources: oil, cotton, cattle, shipping ports, etc., and functioned quite well as our own country, completely separate from Mexico AND the U.S., again, ergo, the Lone Star.

4) In 1845, the leaders of Texas voted and decided it would be beneficial for Texas joined the United States.

5) Texas is the ONLY state in the union, which has it in its constitution and the U.S.'s concession to Texas in order for our state to join the Union, was to have the ability to secede, once again, from the United States, should we vote to do so. It's a little known fact, but that concession still stands.

6) The Texas state capitol, in Austin, is approximately 10 feet taller than the United States capitol building.

7) Texas is the ONLY state whose flag is allowed to fly at the same height as the United States flag, but almost everyone who flies both flags, out of respect for the United States, follows the standard of flying the Lone Star flag at a height lower than the U.S. flag.

YES, we are proud of our state, and if you ever came here, you'd discover we're some of the most friendly people on the face of the earth. We welcome any and all ... but we don't care for people who come here and insult us, anymore than anyone else would appreciate us coming to their state and insulting them.

I am very proud of my state, and when friends come to visit, I love to take them around and show them the sights. I've yet to send anyone home who didn't love us and who didn't return for a subsequent visit or two. (I just had friends visit from Australia, and they told me that out of their five week tour of the U.S., Texas was the best and most memorable because the people were the most friendly.)

I've traveled the world, and I've always been extremely surprised at how people go completely out of their way when they find out a Texan is visiting. I've never felt anything but friendship and kindness in other countries.

A true Texan will knock himself or herself out to accommodate someone or help someone in dire straights, regardless of where that person may hail from.

As for anyone who doesn't like us, well, too bad; you don't know what you're missing due to your ridiculous prejudices.

Back during the 80s, a lot of people migrated south to Texas due to job changes. They came here, complained about the summer heat, complained about our trees, complained about the lack of mountains. Generally, they complained about everything.

WE got sick of it, and a very popular bumper sticker at the time (and one I had on my car) read:

WELCOME TO TEXAS.Now go home!

Otherwise, come on down to Texas for a vacation; we'll show you a really great time. You'll never find a friendlier, kinder and more helpful bunch of people ... if you'd just put aside your prejudices and experience what Texas and its people have to offer!

Andy why are you a an a~hole.....seriously why would you even come out your mouth with that question...it has nothing to do whit anything on this page... and black people aren't the only people that talk or write like that. how do you even know that the person you are talking about is even black...what if it's some white kid that wrote that... my mom taught me that when you assume you make an a** out of yourself... so next time think before you speak... people like you are hold back mankind

and she looks "tipsy" how??????? Aol get some "real" researchrs beforre printing "misleading" headlines. and how many AOL employees were tipsy lastnight and the night before, and probably cheated on spouses, or made sex tapes? Now there's an AOL headline! get back to us.

Hey, I'm from Texas! And for your information, we are not all red-neck, hillbilly people. I take great offense to your assumption. Contrary to belief, we don't all ride horses and wear cowboy hats! I am a smart, educated woman and I don't need any man to support me or make my life worth living! Jessica Simpson would be a ditz no matter if she was raised here in Texas or New York City!